Better off without the Bhoys says Lima

BENFICA have taken another swipe at Celtic ahead of tonight's Champions League battle in Lisbon, with Brazilian striker Lima claiming that his side must knock Celtic out for the sake of the competition, writes Aidan Fitzmaurice.

20 November 2012 02:00 PM

Celtic boss Neil Lennon was already angered by comments from Benfica 'keeper Artur, who claimed that the Scottish side had only been able to get results by using negative tactics. Now, Lima has also hit out at the Bhoys.

Lima said: "We believe we're a better side than Celtic and it would be better for the Champions League if Benfica were to progress.

"We believe we have better quality throughout our team and if we play well then we will win."

But Lennon hit back: "People call us negative but with 15 minutes to go against Barcelona a defender came off and we put a centre-forward on. If you tell a big enough mistruth, people will believe it.

"Sometimes you can be made to look ordinary when you are being pinned back. But that's fine.

"We will take the same sort of philosophy into this game and we will try to go out and win it."